Unbroken

A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

By: Laura Hillenbrand

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Number-one New York Times best seller

The incredible true story of survival and salvation that is the basis for two major motion pictures: 2014’s Unbroken and the upcoming Unbroken: Path to Redemption.

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.

The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he’d been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile. But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

In her long-awaited book, Laura Hillenbrand writes with the same rich and vivid narrative voice she displayed in Seabiscuit. Telling an unforgettable story of a man’s journey into extremity, Unbroken is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.

©2010 Laura Hillenbrand; 2010 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Unbroken is wonderful twice over, for the tale it tells and for the way it’s told. A better book than Seabiscuit, it manages maximum velocity with no loss of subtlety. [Hillenbrand has] a jeweler’s eye for a detail that makes a story live." (Newsweek)

"A master class in narrative storytelling.... Extraordinarily moving...A powerfully drawn survival epic." (The Wall Street Journal)

"Ambitious and powerful.... Hillenbrand is intelligent and restrained, and wise enough to let the story unfold for itself. Her research is thorough, her writing crystalline. Unbroken is gripping in an almost cinematic way." (The New York Times Book Review)

“[A] one-in-a-billion story...designed to wrench from self-respecting critics all the blurby adjectives we normally try to avoid: It is amazing, unforgettable, gripping, harrowing, chilling, and inspiring.” (New York)

“Staggering...mesmerizing...Hillenbrand’s writing is so ferociously cinematic, the events she describes so incredible, you don’t dare take your eyes off the page.” (People)

“A meticulous, soaring and beautifully written account of an extraordinary life.” (The Washington Post)

“Hillenbrand...tells [this] story with cool elegance but at a thrilling sprinter’s pace.” (Time)

“Unbroken is too much book to hope for: a hellride of a story in the grip of the one writer who can handle it.” (Christopher McDougall, author of Born to Run)

Amazing story of survival!

Such an amazing story of courage, evil and forgiveness. At times I laughed, at others, cringed in horror and disbelief. To endure what these men had, is almost incomprehensible!
Mr. Hermann’s narration was brilliant.

riveting and wrenching

One of the best audibles I've listened to. The narrator did an excellent job of conveying the story and emotion of Louie. I could not stop listening to this wrenching piece of history.

Wow... first book to ever make me cry

This story is so well written and read, it makes you feel like you are there watching the horrors. There were many moments that had me on the verge of tears, then I finally lost it toward the end when he found God and with him, finally found peace. I will definitely be recommending this book to others.

Just WOW.

Such a good and well read story. I don’t know what more to say except if you are thinking of getting this audible, do it.

A must read

This story was humbling and amazing. The strength these men created… most of us will never know. The story brought both tears and happiness.

Awe inspiring

An incredible tale, but not for the faint of heart. This is war, after all. Try to persevere through the hours of horror- it's worth it.

Great Book!!!!

A powerful testimony of the healing power of Jesus Christ and the tenacity of God's love for each individual.

Incredible story

Much better than the movie. It is an incredible story, one that I will never forget

A Beautiful Story of Resilience and Faith

This is a gripping story of resilience, survival and faith conversion. I recommend it for historians, military leaders, humanitarians, and the faithful.

War is disturbing

When people generally think of World War II, they automatically think of Hitler in the hell he created. The Japanese individuals that were in charge of the POW camps were just as horrific as the Germans. This book is based on a true story and you cannot even imagine how any of these servicemen survived. Well worth the read.